Scott Verwey

With great sadness in our hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved son Scott Verwey on June 11, 2022 at his home in Portage la Prairie, MB at the age of 39 years.

Left to mourn Scott’s passing are his parents Arnold and Judy Verwey, sister Amanda Verwey and his furbaby Chip.

Also deeply saddened are many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family, Verwey and Grant. On the Verwey side, Scott was part of the Verwey kids with Monty, Adam and Laurel living across the road, and Rhonda, Danny and Jordan as their parents Randy and Shirleen and Scott’s parents Arnold and Judy farmed together. Rhonda, Jesse and their sons Kade and Madox visited Scott often and were very special to him, as well as Aunt Pat and Uncle Owen Williams, because they lived the closest.

On the Grant side, Scott had six older male cousins, Ricky, Michael, Cory, Jamie, Shawn and Chris who all lived in cities, when they came to the farm they could get into all kinds of trouble! Scott, being the youngest, just followed along. Most of the time they would say “Scott said it was Okay to do that” when they got caught.

Waiting  for  Scott  was his  furbaby  Aussie,  grandparents Gerrard and Alida (Ida) Verwey, Uncle John Verwey, Aunt Ida Trimble (Verwey), Don and Jean Brownridge, grandfather Bruce Grant, Aunt Lynn Heimple (Grant) and Uncle Robert Grant.

Scott was born on July 5, 1982, and he had an adventurous spirit right from the start. He grew up on the family farm South of Portage, and he loved farming and being on any piece of equipment that left the yard, the faster the better. Aunt Idie lived across the road and babysat Scott when he was a preschooler.  Scott attended school at Crescentview and AMHS. He had many friends that he started school with and finished grade 12 with that he remained close with throughout his life. Scott had a good sense of humor and liked to joke around.

Scott was kind and loving, although his teen years presented him and his parents with many challenges. Scott was very bright and was gifted with many talents. He could draw and paint, and did woodworking from a young age. He was also involved in competitive gymnastics, played baseball and enjoyed hunting and snowmobiling.

Although he loved Portage, the mountains called to him. After working at Mano’s pizza through his high school years, he and a friend moved to Banff and worked at a big resort where staff and visitors came from around the world. He then came back to Portage and worked for Dallas Transport, driving a semi. He loved the countryside he saw, and ten lanes of traffic didn’t pose any concern for him, neither did long trips driving for days. He then moved to Drayton Valley, AB to work on the oil rigs until he was injured in a motor vehicle accident in March 2007.

Following the accident, Scott had a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic, and he spent the next 14 years in a wheelchair. Scott was determined and did as much as he could for himself, but had to rely on others to help him with daily acts of life. Despite it all, he tried to remain positive. He managed his own care needs for 11 years with the help of staff he hired in Winnipeg. He then moved back to Portage where his family could help out as well.

As a family, we would like to thank all the many health care aides, doctors, nurses and therapists that helped in Scott’s journey, especially Stephanie Hawker, who cared for Scott in both Winnipeg and Portage, Mark, who shared a love for the Jets and the Bombers, and a big thank you to Travis, who was a good friend to Scott and helped him out.

Funeral Service will be held at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm, led by Father Michael Savarimuthu. Private family interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Scott may be made to the Portage District General Hospital Foundation, 524 – 5th St.SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3A8, Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), 121 12th St. NE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 4A2 or the Bruce Oake Memorial Fund, PO Box 61084 Grant Park, Winnipeg, MB, R3M 3X8.

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little-but not too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me-but let me go

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It’s all part of the Master’s plan

A step on the road to home

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me but let me go.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com